Sudan Announces Resumption of GERD Talks

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction on the river Nile. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction on the river Nile. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
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Sudan Announces Resumption of GERD Talks

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction on the river Nile. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction on the river Nile. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

Sudan has announced the resumption of talks with Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute over the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River.

Talks have been resumed via video conference between the three countries, with the mediation of South Africa, the current chair of the African Union.

In a press statement on Friday, which Asharq Al-Awsat has obtained a copy of, Sudan’s Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok received a letter from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that praised the positive and constructive role that Sudan has played during the recent meeting of the AU heads of states over the GERD.

Hamdok’s contribution to the meeting affirmed Sudan’s commitment to reach a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution for the three parties, the letter read.

Ramaphosa also highlighted Khartoum’s “refraining from taking any measures or making any statements that could negatively affect the course of negotiations.”

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that the mediators and parties involved in these talks held Friday a procedural session during which they discussed the basis for negotiations.

Minister of State at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) presented her country’s speech. Representatives of the three countries also delivered their opening remarks.

A detailed report over the progress of negotiations will be presented to the Presidents of South Africa and the three countries after a week.

Earlier round of talks failed to produce a deal on the operation and filling of the dam, prompting Egypt to appeal for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to intervene.



Blinken Speaks to Israel’s Dermer about Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

 A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
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Blinken Speaks to Israel’s Dermer about Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

 A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza in a meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in Washington on Monday, the State Department said.

Dermer updated Blinken on operational changes and policy decisions taken by Israel in response to a US letter sent in October, the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

Blinken "emphasized the importance of ensuring those changes lead to an actual improvement in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including through the delivery of additional assistance to civilians throughout Gaza," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in the statement.